Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all those present to this virtual meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

With reference to item 4 on the agenda, Councillor Nicola Roberts declared that she had served as a director of the Llangefni Partnership, the social enterprise that had for a period been responsible for managing and running the Llangefni Golf course. She clarified that the Partnership’s involvement with the golf course predated her becoming a director.

To present the report of the Interim Director of Social Services.

The report of the Interim Director of Social Services and Interim Head of Adults’ Services providing a summary of progress and improvements to date within the Social Services was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

Councillor Llinos Medi, Leader and Portfolio Member for Social Services provided a summary of the key developments since the Committee was last updated in September, 2010 as follows –

•           That Social Services are currently working within budget and both Adults and Children and Families’ Services are on target to close the financial year in this position.

•           In September, 2020 as part of the national Welsh Government initiative to roll out an ID card for young carers throughout Wales, the Service began working in partnership with Gwynedd Council and Action for Children to develop an ID card for young carers. This work has since progressed as detailed within the report and the Service is currently working with regional partners to develop a unified approach to design for a North Wales Young Carers ID card in digital, card and wristband format. The ID card is to be formally launched next week.

•           That two of the established Small Group Homes are running at full capacity, work is progressing on a third and an offer has been made on a fourth property using ICF funding to provide accommodation for children cared for by the Authority.

•           The Service has secured ICF provision funding to purchase a detached bungalow in order to offer an improved day care service for children with complex needs. A property has been identified and its purchase is in process.

•           A “no wrong door” approach is being developed in responding to the emotional well-being and mental health needs of children and young people which have been brought into sharp focus by the pandemic. This means that families, children and young people seeking help with mental health and emotional well-being needs will not be bounced between services or told that they are knocking on the wrong door. A plan has been formulated to further develop and take this approach forward.

•           An independent audit of Adults’ Social Services has been commissioned and will report on findings to the Social Services Improvement Panel.

•           Three Community Resource teams in Amlwch, Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley and Llanfairpwll are now in place and due to Covid-19 restrictions, are meeting virtually.

•           A position update is provided with regard to the two projects aimed at delivering the   Adult Learning Disability Strategy – these encompass external day services and the in house provision. Due to Covid 19 the commissioning timetable for the externally commissioned provision has slipped.

•           The development of the Shared Lives Programme has been severely impacted by the pandemic. The project which is ICF funded is to be continued but will be opened up to support older people,

•           The expansion of the community hubs has been put on hold during the pandemic. Elements of the work are continuing virtually examples of which are given in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To present the report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 3 2020/21 was presented for the Committee’s consideration and scrutiny.

Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business introduced the report highlighting that during Quarter 3, Wales was put into a 2 week national firebreak on the 23 October, 2020 and also into a national lockdown (level 4) on the 19 December, 2020; these lockdowns have had, and continue to have an impact on Council services. However, it is encouraging to note that 88% of the Corporate Health Performance indicators monitored are continuing to perform well against target and are ragged Green or Yellow with a standout performance in staff absence management - 4.69 days lost to absence per FTE in the period against a target of 6.91 days lost to absence per FTE.  All indicators under the digital service shift subheading have seen performances that have surpassed previous annual results during the pandemic. The importance of Social Media in communicating messages and positively influencing behaviours during the pandemic cannot be underestimated – the Council’s social media channels have seen an increase of 8,500 followers from the end of Qtr.3 2019/20. There are currently 15 Performance Management indicators (33%) for which the collection of the data has either been cancelled by Welsh Government or are currently not being collected because of the redeployment of resources to deal with the pandemic – details of the areas affected are provided in section 4.2 of the report. For the remaining indicators reported in Q3 (27 indicators), 74% are performing above target or within 5% tolerance of their targets. Eight indicators are underperforming against their targets and are highlighted as Red or Amber on the scorecard; these are in relation to Public Protection, Children and Families’ Services, Housing Service and the Planning Service. Explanatory information is provided in the report along with proposed mitigations. It should be noted however,  that feedback from local planning agents indicates that Anglesey’s Planning Service is the only one in the region that is currently continuing to provide a near to normal service as possible.

The Head of Profession (HR) AND Transformation referred to the key role of the Council’s Communications Service during the pandemic and clarified that a number of factors have contributed to the improved performance with regard to staff absence management e.g.  increased hygiene awareness and observance due to  Covid-19 regulations resulting in the reduction of “bugs and viruses” as seen in the near eradication in 2020/21 of the flu. The Programme, Business Planning and Performance Manager said that the report covers the most unstable period which saw two lockdowns and increased numbers affected by Covid 19.It is especially encouraging therefore to note that the Q3 trend in the majority of the areas ragged Red is one of improvement from Q2.

In discussing the report and acknowledging the contribution made by staff in maintaining performance in very challenging times, the Committee raised the following points to which the Officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To present the report of the Interim Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Interim Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) on the options for the future of the Llangefni Golf Course following formal consultation was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The consultation outcome report detailing the submissions received and the Council’s response was appended.

Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Major Projects and Economic Development provided background information to the Llangefni Golf Course highlighting that the facility was operating at a loss of around £28k per annum prior to its closure which the Council had to subsidise. The Executive in May 2018 endorsed in principle the intention to dispose of the Golf course and reinvest the proceeds in Plas Arthur Leisure Centre. The process has taken time and as with all other facets of society has been disrupted by Covid-29. Anglesey is well provided for in terms of golfing provision and the driving range facility in Llangefni which reopened in January 2019 under Golf Môn is proving very popular and successful and will remain open.

Councillor R.G. Parry, OBE, FRAgS, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property referred to the transfer in February 2015 of the management and responsibility for the golf course to Llangefni Partnership, a social enterprise in the town which after a review of the facility’s  financial performance  and an independent feasibility study, decided that it was unable to make the facility work financially in the long run whereupon the course was handed back to the Council and was subsequently mothballed.

The Interim Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) referred to the context confirming that following the Executive’s previous decision in 2018 to endorse in principle the disposal of the Golf course, the Service has been considering options for its its future. Participation figures have reduced and the running costs have become unsustainable. The Council is under a duty to consider the impact of a proposed disposal of playing fields on the health and wellbeing of a local community, to consult with the community and relevant consultees and to consider any representations made. Accordingly the Council undertook a formal consultation process between  12 October, 2020 and  30 November, 2020 and this was carried out in accordance with Regulation 5 of the Playing Fields (Community Involvement in Disposal Decision) (Wales) Regulations 2015.

The Economic Development Manager confirmed that in order to prepare for the public consultation external solicitors were commissioned to provide guidance and assistance to ensure full compliance with the Playing Fields Regulations 2015. Between October 2019 and March, 2020, Officers completed all formal site and press notices, a comprehensive and detailed consultation report, all supporting reports and impact assessments and also ensured that all internal ICT platforms were fully compliant.

Councillors Nicola Roberts and Dylan Rees spoke as Local Members and acknowledged that it was a difficult situation for them locally in that no one wanted to see the loss of an asset, but accepted that dwindling participant numbers at Llangefni Golf Course in recent years had made the facility unviable. They  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To present the report of the Scrutiny Manager.

The Committee’s forward work programme to April, 2021 was presented for consideration.

It was resolved –

•           To agree the current version of the forward work programme for 2020/21.

•           To note the progress thus far in implementing the forward work programme.